According to a leader, a Secretariat meeting of the party on Wednesday decided to nominate Gautam as a National Assembly member. Gautam will replace Yubaraj Khatiwada, the incumbent finance minister, in the National Assembly. Khatiwada’s term is expiring on March 3.

In the 59-member National Assembly, three members are appointed by the President at the recommendation of the government.

The ruling party earlier this week drew flak for attempting to amend the constitution to pave the way for a National Assembly member to become prime minister, as the move was largely aimed at benefiting Gautam. A task force which was said to have been formed to study the prospects of amending the constitution to allow an Upper House member to become the executive head, however, failed to materialise following criticism from within the ruling party, media, civil society members and experts on constitutional affairs.

Even those from the party who were said to have been nominated members of the task force disowned it, throwing a spanner into the plan to amend the constitution.